Jerry Springer's 15-Year-Old Daughter Defended His Character in Open Letter as Critics Dubbed Him 'King of Sleaze'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jerry Springer and Katie Springer in 2023.Photo:ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock

ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock

Katie Springer lived a life outside the spotlight before stepping forward in defense of her dad,Jerry Springer.

Jerry welcomed Katie in 1976 with Micki Velton, to whom he remained married until his death in April 2023 at age 79. FormerChicago Sun-Timesmedia critic Robert Feder reads the heartfelt letter from the controversial talk-show host’s daughter in the documentary.

“At the height of all the controversy, Jerry’s teenage daughter, Katie, writes a letter to a newspaper which was the first time we had ever heard from her in any form at any time,” he explains.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The letter read, “My name is Katie Springer, and I’m Jerry Springer’s daughter. The city of Chicago seems to be in need of some facts about the man that they have so slanderously dubbed the King of Sleaze."

Jerry Springer on the set of ‘The Jerry Springer Show’.©Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis via Getty

©Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis via Getty

The documentary covers one infamous 1998 episode that featured a man who left his wife and two daughters to marry a Shetland pony. Another episode that aired in 2000 featured a love triangle that ultimately led to a husband murdering his ex-wife.

“To have a guy on that married a horse, that was kissing a horse on stage, this was the most vile, grotesque freak show on television," Feder says of the former episode in the documentary.

Jerry Springer on a 1998 episode of his show.Getty

Getty

Speaking with PEOPLE earlier this year, Katie, now 48, said her father viewed his popular, long-running talk show and its onscreen drama with good humor and a sense of pragmatism, understanding it enabled him to provide for his family in a “good way.”

“He knew the show was ridiculous. He would say that,” she said, adding, “Always, when he would meet someone, and they would say, ‘I love your show,’ he would jokingly say, ‘May you never be on it.’ ”

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Actionis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com